HE IS RISEN

HE IS RISEN



King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Matthew 28:6

Enjoy your Palm Sunday with those you love remembering the Reason for the Season. Happy Easter ~ SP

Every Storm Runs Out of Rain

I saw you standing in the middle of the thunder and lightning I know you're feeling like you just can't win, but you're trying It's hard to keep on keepin' on, when you're being pushed around Don't even know which way is up, you just keep spinning down, 'round, down…

Every storm runs, runs out of rain Just like every dark night turns into day Every heartache will fade away Just like every storm runs, runs out of rain

So hold your head up and tell yourself that there's something more And walk out that door, Go find a new rose, don't be afraid of the thorns 'Cause we all have thorns Just put your feet up to the edge, put your face in the wind And when you fall back down, keep on rememberin'

Every storm runs, runs out of rain Just like every dark night turns into day Every heartache will fade away Just like every storm runs, runs out of rain

It's gonna run out of pain It's gonna run out of sting It's gonna leave you alone It's gonna set you free Set you free

Every storm runs, runs out of rain Just like every dark night turns into day Every heartache will fade away Just like every storm runs, runs out of rain

It's gonna set you free, It's gonna run out of pain, It's gonna set you free

~~~ I LOVE these lyrics. I haven't always been a big country fan but I'm fast becoming one. I love the stories the artists are singing about and that makes so many people able to relate to the words. Like the words above Every Storm Runs Out of Rain ~ As in life, just give it a little time and the hard time you're experiencing will past and the good times will come along. I believe if you trust in God and understand that the storm won't last, Christ is walking with you and will get you through. ~~~ Everyone enjoy your day. God Bless.

Be Still

Recently my family went on a trip to Hawaii. This was the third time I've been blessed to visit and I always feel like I grow closer to God both physically and spiritually. You can't be there and not feel like you're getting a glimpse into Heaven. God totally sent me there to get some answers.

If you know me personally, you know how crazy I am, I don't mean that I should be committed in a padded room, but I mean crazy with activities and the hustle and bustle of life. My family is always going here or there. We're blessed to have a great family, some great friends and people in our lives and able to go to the best church in my part of the world. With all those people we love, brings lots of activities. Lots of church activities, lots of lessons between band, dance, volleyball, gymnastics, scouts, you name it. With me it lots of college classes and lots of photography shoots and I'm always on the go.

I've been praying a lot lately about what's next in our lives. I've been thinking about when I graduate (yep, from OU with a Fine Arts degree), if I should get a "regular" job with a 9 to 5 work week with a regular paycheck and pension or if I should continue my passion in photography. I love my photography and I feel like God has given me this gift to see those things in the world which are beautiful. However, with the photography business comes the part of working for myself, having a job on commission, working for years without ever getting anything from social security when I'm old and in my rocker, no 401k's and no company picnics.

When I married my husband, Scott, we had to luxury of me being able to quit my job as a photographer in a studio, where I worked on a salary and commission, shooting portraits and weddings. I knew each week I would get a paycheck and it helped pay the bills and take care of my kids when I was a single mother. With Scott, I was able to continue in my passion for photography and make images and shoot portraits on my own time. I have been able to do the things I love. I was able to stay home with my girls. I was waiting for my husband when he'd come home from a trip and have dinner waiting for him. We were close but we were often far distances apart. Then my husband, who was an officer in the Air Force and pilot, got brain cancer. My world stopped.

Unless you've had a terminal illness hit your immediate, nuclear family, there is no way you will ever completely understand what I am saying. It will completely stop you in your tracks, overnight it will change your world.

Now being a Momma to three beautiful and bright girls, my main purpose in life is to give these girls spiritual guidance, help them to become self-reliant, protect them and care for them. That's it.

I love my husband and I'm happy to say he has so far beaten the original prognosis of only having months to live with this terminal brain cancer. However, I honestly can't help but wander what's on the horizon? I don't have the luxury of living in a little bubble while my husband hands over his paycheck and I hand out the money for bills. I can't help but wonder, what's next? I wonder what's next with his cancer? Is it going to come back? Is it going to be worse than before? Will I be able to continue helping him get better? Will I have enough money to pay for insurance and the doctor appointments? Will I still be able to pay for kid's college? Will I even have enough money for food and a place to live with my kids? These are things that people think about, when the reality of a terminal illness strikes. Before this happens, it's easy to plan for the future, when "we're old" and when "we're retired." So instead I just go and go and go and go. I go to school. I go to work. I go here. I go there. All the while, wondering what I should be doing and praying to God asking if I'm doing the right thing? Then I found this verse ~

Mark 4:39 King James Version (KJV) 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Sometimes when we are on our crazy roller coaster life, in search of the ole' mighty dollar, striving to be the best at whatever, or just trying to make a living but we can't find the answers we're searching for because we haven't slowed down to listen to God.

Peace.
Slow Down.
Peace.
Listen.
Peace.
Be Still.
Peace.
Okay God, I'm listening.


Shelly Perkins Photography www.shellyperkins.com

God's Beauty

We took our two youngest kids on vacation for their first visit to Hawaii. We stayed on the island of Oahu and found so many beautiful places. Many people just stay on Waikiki Beach, which yes is beautiful, but there are so many other places to discover. Finding an isolated beach, listening to the waves, feeling the sun reflect off the water made me feel so much closer to God. If God can make places this gorgeous on Earth, can you imagine how beautiful Heaven must be??

Shelly Perkins Photography
www.shellyperkins.com